Today is Mother's Day in the UK, our Mother's Day is not until 11 May. New Zealand and many others decided to follow the USA, in setting the date for Mother's day. But originally Mothering Sunday really had very little to do with Mother's or Mother's Day.

The origins of Mothering Sunday are lost way back in the mists of British History, but from about the 17th Century it became a day that domestic servants, were allowed a day off to return to their Mother Church. Being the Church where they were baptised or christened. For many of them this did mean that on this day, they would get to see their family, and it was common for them to pick flowers on the way to give to their own mother's as a gift. It also used to be called Simnal Sunday, after the practice of baking simnel cakes to celebrate the reuniting of families during the austerity of Lent, and Simnal Cake came to be associated with this day. Because there is traditionally a relaxation of Lenten vows on this particular Sunday in celebration of the fellowship of family and church, the name Refreshment Sunday is sometimes used, although rarely today.

It is only in the 20th Century that the more commercial and secular Mother's Day emerged, because two women, wanted there to be a day that mother's were honoured, for their nurture and care. Mothering Sunday being more for the mother Church. They campaigned and it was eventually established. But in the UK the two are still entwined. I appreciate being able to view the Church as a place that is nurturing and caring, as a mother, with God as the Father. That's what a Church should be.